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NATIONAL MILITARY PARK AT YALLEY FORGE, PA. 



HEARING ^''^ 



BEFORE THE 



COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS 



UNITED STATES SENATE, 



JANUAKY 29, 1902, 



IN RELATION TO THE BILL (S. 614) TO ESTABLISH A-NMIOJ^AL, :-. 
MILITARY PARK AT VALLEY 1^^^^, PA.*...*...' i'-i •.;.•:'% 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1902. 



lUTIOML MILITARY PARK AT YALLEY FORGE, PA. 



Washington, D. C. , January 29, 1902. 

The committee met at 11 o'clock a. m. 

Present: Senators Hawley (chairman), Proctor, Burrows, Scott, 
Bate, and Pettus. 

Also, delegations representing the Valley Forge National Park Asso- 
ciation, the Daughters of the Revolution, General Society, The Mary- 
land Local Society, the Colorado Ijocal Society, and the Sons of the 
Revolution. 

The Chairman. Gentlemen, we have a quorum here. We may as 
well begin the hearing. The clerk will read the bill which gives cause 
for this meeting, the bill upon which our friends desire to be heard. 

The clerk read the bill (S. 614) to establish a national military park 
at Valley Forge, Pa., as follows: 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That upon the State of Pennsylvania ceding to the United 
States the land held by it, being part of the camp ground of General Washington at 
Valley Forge, and jurisdiction thereover as well as over such other land as may be 
acquired pursuant to the provisions of this act, the President is hereby authorized to 
appoint ten commissioners, to be known as commissioners of the Valley Forge 
National Military Park, to locate definitely and by metes and bounds, the territory 
occupied by George Washington as a camping ground at Valley Forge, in the State 
of Pennsylvania; the said commissioners shall have their office in Philadelphia, in 
the State of Pennsylvania, and while on duty shall be paid such compensation out 
of the appropriation provided in this act as the Secretary of War shall deem reason- 
able and just. 

Sec. 2. That there is hereby appropriated the sum of two hundred thousand dol- 
lars, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary, to be expended in acquiring for the United States, by purchase 
or condemnation, the territory so located by said commissioners, and for the improve- 
ment of said territory, and the said territory so acquired shall be designated and 
known as the Valley Forge National Military Park. 

The Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, we are very glad to see you. 
Speaking for myself, I am a friend of Philadelphia and everybody in 
the neighborhood, and a friend of this enterprise. Who shall speak 
for you, as they say, to a jury? 

STATEMENT OF MR. JOHN CADWALLADER, PRESIDENT OF THE 
VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL PARK ASSOCIATION. 

Mr. Cadwallader. Mr. Chairman, I will make a few remarks. 

The Chairman. You are the president of this association? 

Mr. Cadwallader. I am the acting president of the organization 
called the Valley Forge National Park Association. It is perhaps 
better that I should state the character of that association, and to 
show you how little it is individually interested. 

3 



4 NATIONAL MILITAEY PAKK AT VALLEY FOEGE, PA. 

It is an organization composed of representatives of the historical 
societies or organizations known as the Sons of the Revohition, 
Daughters of the Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, and 
Daughters of the American Revolution. The organization is very 
widespread throughout the United States, some twenty-eight or thirty 
organizations being represented by delegates who have united for the 
purpose of urging upon the Government of the United States the 
acquisition of this land, which is of such an extraordinarily interesting 
character. 

Some of the papers and maps which will be laid before you are, 
unfortunately, delayed on the train, owing to the storm. But in look- 
ing at the beautiful picture over one of the doorwaj^s of this room, 
representing the encampment at Valley Forge, it seems peculiarly 
appropriate, as that picture very well represents the incident of the 
encampment of 1777-78. 

These bodies thought it was wise to concentrate their efforts through 
a common organization to urge this matter, and when it is accom- 
lished that will be the end of the organization. I may say that not 
a single member of the organization has the most remote personal 
interest in the matter. 

I have here blue-print maps giving the details of the lines of the 
property involved, which can be examined by any members of the 
committee. 

What I have to say will be brief, and I wish to state further that 
representatives of some of the organizations concerned are delayed on 
the train by the storm. 

The conditions at Valley Forge are probaly known to some of you, 
if not to all. 

Senator Bukrows. Let me ask you about this organization right 
there. Is it a voluntary association ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. A voluntary association. 

Senator Burrows. It has no articles of incorporation or anything 
of that sort? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Nothing of that sort. 

Senator Burrows. It is purely voluntary ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. It is organized for the purpose of concentrating 
our efforts and bringing the matter before Congress, and supplying 
such information as may be desired or can be offered. 

Senator Bate. If this land is purchased, who is to keep it up in the 
future if there is to be no organization? 

Mr. Cadwallader. The bill appoints commissioners. It is in the 
regular form of a military park. That is the form of bill that was 
preferred by the representatives both of the House and Senate, when 
this matter was before them at the last session of Congress. The 
commissioners to be appointed under the bill will take charge of it. 

Senator Scott. In other words, the fact which the Senator wants to 
draw out, I think, is that if this bill passes, it will take an annual 
appropriation to provide and care for it. 

Mr. Cadwallader. That would be involved. The chairman of the 
military committee of the House preferred very much that there 
should be paid commissioners. The original purpose was that there 
should be no compensation, in the idea that the office was such that 
ver}^ suitable persons would be only too glad to serve without pay; 
but with the view that this reservation should be of utility as well as 
of sentimental interest, it is probable that that would not be a burden. 



NATIONAL MILITAEY PAEK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 5 

Senator Burrows. Then, as I understand you — I want to be clear 
about that — the representatives of this organization have no interest in 
the matter except a patriotic interest, and the association is purely 
voluntary. 

Mr. Cadwallader. That -is correct. They have no other interest 
whatever. 

Senator Burrows. And you are simply presenting your views here 
because you think it ought to be made a national park? 

Mr. Cadwallader. We are stating why we think action should be 
taken at this time to preserve this historic spot. Perhaps a greater 
interest attaches to it at this time owing to the last message of the 
President of the United States, who has suggested the uses of prop- 
erty of this sort in connection with our military organizations. 

I will briefly state the facts. The whole of this tract upon which 
the Revolutionary army was encamped in 1777-78 remains to-day 
almost untouched. In that respect I imagine it is the most interest- 
ing tract of land existing in all of the large States of the Union, being 
substantially in the condition in which it was one hundred and twenty- 
five years ago. For some reason that is hardly accountable, the march 
of progress and the increase in population have made comparatively 
few changes. The country is beautifully situated and easily reached 
by railwa3^s. In the immediate vicinitj^ the most valuable portions of 
the suburban district around Philadelphia exist, and there land has 
reached prices of $10,000 an acre. Here, within easy riding and walk- 
ing distance of property so valuable, by a most fortunate combination 
of circumstances this particular land along the beautiful Schuj^lkill 
River and the Chester Valley Creek has remained untouched. Values 
have continued to be low. 

Some years ago the State of Pennsylvania, seeing the conditions 
which existed, appointed a commission and made an appropriation to 
acquire a portion of it, and the State now holds about 220 acres, in- 
cluding a ver}^ interesting portion of the fortifications and redoubts, 
which are in better preservation than those on the battlefield of Gettj^s- 
burg to-daj^, existing substantially as they were thrown up one hundred 
and twenty-five years ago. Another organization has secured Wash- 
ington's Headquarters and preserved them, and one of the provisions 
of this bill is that those two reservations are, of course, to be ceded to 
the (jeneral Government by the State. The bill provides for their 
cession to the United States. 

Senator Bate. Without compensation ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Oh, yes; without compensation, and upon that 
cession only is this bill to take efi'ect. 

Senator Burrows. Let me understand what is reserved and pre- 
served there now. You speak of two associations. 

Mr. Cadwallader. There is a little pamphlet here which explains 
that. 

Senator Burrows. What did Pennsylvania do? How much land 
did the State of Pennsylvania buy? 

Mr. Cadwallader. It has bought about 200 acres. 

Senator Burrows. Embracing what? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Embracing the summit of Mount Joy, the inner 
line of intrenchments, the camping ground of Maxwell's New Jersey 
troops, and also General Washington's Headquarters, just down at the 
entrance to the road which leads up to this main tract. 



6 NATIONAL MILITARY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 

Senator Burrows. Is the State of Pennsjdvania taking- care of that 
each year? 

Mr. Cadwallader. In a moderate wslj. That has been the diffi- 
cult}^, though. They are now ]a3dng' out some roads with a view to 
preserving it and making it more accessible, and it is free from any 
danger of being destroyed. It is under the protection of the State. 

Senator Burrows. Or of being absorbed by private parties ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Or of being absorbed b}^ private parties. 

Senator Burrows. So it is perfectly secure? 

Mr. Cadwallader. That part is perfectly secure. And now I wish 
to call attention to this point, that I hope action will be taken speedily, 
if it is to be taken, by the Government. That land was acquired by 
the State of Pennsylvania under condemnation proceedings. That 
which has been thus acquired is the most attractive historically, per- 
haps, or as interesting as any, and I am sure the value has been now 
ascertained by law, and there is not a private interest in any part of 
the remaining tract of about 1,200 acres that we think will bring a 
higher price than was obtained by these other parties. We urge that 
this tract of 1,200 acres should be taken because it includes most of 
the ground occupied hj the various divisions of State troops in 1777. 
The condemnation proceedings under which, the State of Fennsjdvania 
acquired the land which it has were contested seriously and every effort 
was made to obtain as high figures as possible, but owing to the delay 
in the development the ascertained value is very limited indeed. 
Including all the improvements that were taken — farms, buildings, 
farmhouses, and everything — the average value of the land was only 
$145 an acre. Now, that land, as a mere matter of purchase, will be 
worth $500 or |1,000 an acre inevitably in five or ten years. 

Senator Bate. How far is it from Philadelphia? 

Mr. Ca-DWALLader. About 18 miles. 

Senator Scott. You say that there are about 1,200 acres which 
should be acquired? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes. 

Senator Scott. Have j'^ou an option on that at any price? 

Mr. Cadwallader. A great msmj of the owners are representatives 
of the old colonial families, and they are not making any objections to 
selling their propert}'^; but my own judgment is that it would be wiser 
generally to take the land under condemnation, by which j^ou can 
secure it at a fair and reasonable price. 

Senator Burrows. I want to ask 3^ou about the ownership of Wash- 
ington's headquarters and man}^ points of interest. You say they are 
preserved to-da}^ and owned b}^ the Sta,te of Pennsylvania? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes; recently acquired. 

Senator Burrows. And they are building roads ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. There is one road being- opened now. It has 
not been developed to any extent. 

Senator Burrows. They are improving it to some extent? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes. 

Senator Burrows. They have it in charge ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes; there is a commission. I served on that 
commission in the outset. 

Senator Burrows. A State commission ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes. 

Senator Burrows. And that commission is looking after it? 



NATIONAL MILITAEY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 7 

Mr. Cadwallader. Yes. 

Senator Burrows. And that is at great expense ? 
, Mr. Cadwallader. Yes. 

Senator Burrows. You speak of an association having purchased 
some ground. 

Mr. Cadwallader. That was the Washington Headquarters Asso- 
ciation, which is separate and distinct from the others. The land 
which it has purchased is separate and distinct from the land taken by 
the State. 

Senator Burrows. That has been purchased ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. That has been purchased and is in charge of 
this association and beautifull}'^ taken care of by it. They also would 
cede that. 

Senator Burrows. What is that organization ? 

Mrs. O. La Forest Perry. The title of that is "The Centennial 
Association." That was organized at the Centennial, during 1876. 

Mr. Cadwallader. I thank you for that information. I had for- 
gotten the title. 

Senator Burrows. How much land did they acquire? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Just a very few acres. 

Mrs. Perry. Not over 2 acres. 

Mr. Cadwallader. I think it does not include 2 acres. It is very 
small — just the land around the house. Those who were in charge of 
these details are detained on the train. 

Senator Burrows. Besides Washington's headquarters and the ter- 
ritory acquired b}^ the State of Pennsylvania, what else do you think 
we ought to have? 

Mr. Cadwallader. All the tract that is proposed to be taken by 
the General Government was occupied by the various State troops and 
encampments. 

Senator Burrows. You propose to buy all the land that the soldiers 
camped on ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Very nearly all; all that is immediately con- 
tiguous and adjacent, which can now be bought at a very low price. 

Senator Burrows. It makes a larger field. But if you have preserved 
Washington's headquarters and the State of Pennsylvania has acquired 
this other land, does not that cover the points of principal historic 
interest ? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Lafayette's headquarters are of great interest. 

Senator Burrows. Are the}^ outside of the tract owned b}^ the State 
of Pennsylvania? 

Mr. Cadwallader. They are outside of that. None of the main 
body of the encampment was. included in that purchase. It was more 
to preserve the fortifications and redoubts that the State has purchased 
what it did. Those being in excellent preservation were secured first, 
and it was hoped that this would be extended: but the matter is per- 
haps too large in its scope for the State, and it is felt that this is a 
matter of more general interest to the country at large, and that it 
ought not to be monopolized by any State. That is the feeling. 

Now, owing to the fact that these land values are ascertained, that they 
are moderate, that this land can be used for any encampment of troops 
at any time for the Army, we deem it important that this should be 
acquired by the National Government. Those looking to the remote 
future, who might anticipate trouble in possible wars with foreign 



8 NATIONAL MILITAEY PAEK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 

powers, will readily see that the location of Valley Forge, as selected 
by Gen. Anthony Waj^ne and recommended by him to George Wash- 
ington, would again become a very important point of defense and 
position. The landing of troops which took place then might occur 
again, and this point is a very important one because of the power of 
concentration which is offered by the location, both by main roadways 
and by railways of the country, in massing troops for the protection of 
Philadelphia. It is within two hours of New York, two hours from 
Baltimore, and three hours from Washington, and is also accessible 
through the plains of New Jersey, as well as from Pennsylvania and 
New York. 

Now, the appropriation suggested is $200,000. Those who are resi- 
dents there and who know the values feel satisfied that that will 
acquire this entire tract. There can scarcely be a question of its value 
as an acquisition in any view that is taken of it, not only the senti- 
mental one, which is extremely great, but the practical one. 

I do not desire to occupy the time of the committee b}^ indulging in 
the language which thoughts of Valley Forge usually call forth. 
There has been a great deal written about it. Perhaps the most elo- 
quent and interesting description of Valley Forge and its value is in 
the oration delivered by the late Henry Armat Brown on the opening 
of Washington's headquarters. It contains a very full and accurate 
historical statement, and appeals to everyone. If it is not familiar to 
the committee, I think it would be wise to let a copy be before you. 
I will try to furnish it to you. Have you ever seen the oration of 
Henry Armat Brown upon Valley Forge, Mr. Chairman ? 

The Chairman. I saw it at the time. I knew Mr. Brown very well. 
I was going to ask you whether it is published in pamphlet form and 
can be produced. 

Mr. Cadwallader. It is in pamphlet form and book form. It was 
published with his other orations after his death; but there are pam- 
phlet editions of it also, which would be more convenient, and I should 
like to submit it to the consideration of the committee. 

The Chairman. I should like to supply the committee with copies. 

Mr. Cadwallader. 1 will see if it can be obtained. 

The Chairman. Now I see here a very interesting specification of 
forts and huts and redoubts, the positions of State troops, etc., marked 
on this map. For instance, Woodford's Virginia troops, Scott's 
Virginia troops, General Wayne's troops. Poor's New York troops, 
Glover's Massachusetts troops, Learned's New Hampshire troops, 
Patterson's Vermont troops, Weedon's Virginia troops, Muhlenberg's 
Virginia troops; also, the Commissary-General's headquarters, John 
Moore's fort, General Huntington's headquarters, the location of the 
Connecticut troops, the grave of John Waterman, and the "traditional 
burying ground." Now all these things are indicated here. What I 
wish to ask is this', is the tradition true? Is this verified by history? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Every line of it. I do not think there is a 
historical doubt about it. 

The Chairman. Take, for example, the troops of any State. Are 
there an}^ huts remaining, or any breastworks, or anything of that 
sort, anything to indicate the position? 

Mr. Cadwallader. There were various plans of Valley Forge made 
at the time, upon which these blue prints are based. 

Senator Scott. The question of the chairman is whether there are 
any marks of these encampments at the present time. 



NATIONAL MILITAEY PARK AT VALLEY FOEGE, PA. 9 

Mr. Cadwallader. I do not think there are any remains of the 
buildings that were occupied by the troops. 

Mrs. Ferry. The foundations of some of the huts are still there. 

The Chairman. This lady tells me that the foundations of the huts 
are still traceable, perfectly distinguishable. 

Mr. Cadwallader. In some cases they are identified. 

Mrs. Perry. We have also proved the location of the burying 
ground of the soldiers. It was traditional until the society erected a 
monument there. It was supposed to be the burying ground of the 
troops, and upon examination of the ground, that was found to be 
correct. 

Senator Scott. These places are all marked on this map in the small 
book. The only question is whether this is a copy of an old map or 
whether there is anything on the ground to show where the places 
actually were. 

Mr. Cadwallader. The locations are well ascertained, and there 
are old surveys which have been utilized in that connection. You will 
see that General Muhlenberg's headquarters is perhaps the most 
extreme outlj^ng point that is proposed to be taken. 

The Chairman. Was that the right or left of the American line? 

Mr. Cadwallader. That was on the right, as you look at it. Then, 
you see, John Moore's fort here is on the other side. 

Senator Bate. Don't you think it would be wise to get an option 
on this land before any official action was taken on the part of the 
Government, so as not to allow the price to go up to too high a point? 

Mr. Cadwallader. I think a great many of them would accept the 
valuation that has been ascertained, rather than go to the expense of 
litigation to ascertain it; but as soon as the authority is granted to the 
commissioners they no doubt will take the necessary steps. 

Senator Bate. I do not intend to intimate that there is any person 
who owns land who would take advantage of the Government, but we 
have had trouble in some of these parks in getting the land, because 
the parties have asked so much more money than the Government 
would give. Therefore I think it wise to have that understood, if 
you can. 

Senator Scott. On this map I see the names of a good many prop- 
erty owners. Are those the names of the present owners? 

Mr. Cadwallader. As I understand it, they are the names of the 
original owners. They are not the present owners. 

Mrs. Perry. The names in the small type are the present owners,, 
with the boundaries of their holdings indicated by dotted lines. The 
names in large type are the original owners at the time of the encamp- 
ment, and the heavy lines are the boundaries of their property. That 
is an actual copy of the Valley Forge as it was in 1896. That survey 
was made by a surveyor of Bryn Mawr for the Valley Forge National 
Park Association. I had an interview with the surveyor, who seerned 
to be a very conscientious gentleman, and he said he had put nothing 
on the map except what he had an authentic reason for placing there. 

I was there myself about six months ago, and Mr. Maurice Stevens, 
a gentleman who owns the land where General Varnum's headquar- 
ters were, and also the land that is marked there where W^ashington 
went across, said that he would sell the 165 acres which he owned for 
,000 — ofi'ered it to us for that. 

Senator Bate. How many hundred acres ? 



10 NATIONAL MILITAEY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PAc 

Mrs. Perry. 165 acres for $30,000. He owns the land on which 
General Varnum's headquarters were, which, as I said, is of course 
very important. 

Senator Scott. Do I understand you that the location of these head- 
quarters can on\j be determined by the survey, or can they be dis- 
covered by the old foundations and the old landmarks f Have the old 
landmarks all disappeared? 

Mrs. Perry. They have not all disappeared. Some of the locations 
can be actuall}^ determined by the old foundations, but of course some 
of them can onh^ be determined from the old surve5^s. 

Mr. Cadwallader. There is practically no doubt as to the facts, 
and there is no desire to acquire an inch of territor}^ that is not his- 
torically interesting as well as of practical utility. If the commission 
find that any tract of land is lacking in these features they need not 
take it. Their power should be broad in that respect. It was hoped 
that there would be an opportunity for the members of this committee 
to visit the spot. 

Senator Bate. Do vou know what that 200 acres cost that is now 
owned b}^ the State of Pennsylvania? 

Mr. Cadwallader. It averaged $145 an acre, including the build- 
ings. 

Senator Bate. And this other land of which you speak you think 
can now be bought at the same price? 

Mr. Cadwallader. It ought not to cost any more, and the evidence 
submitted as to the values of the land acquired by the State of Penn- 
sylvania is applicable to the rest of the land, and if acted upon now it 
can be determined, because there is no other evidence to change it. I 
suppose there were at least ten legal actions which were contested, in 
which every one of the incidents or elements of value was gone over, 
and nothing has occurred since to change the value. It is nothing but 
farming land, and not of a very good quality, but attention has been 
called to it, and it is a very attractive region for country seats. 

Senator Scott. It is very hilly, is it not, with steep hillsides? 

Mr. Cadwallader. Rolling and hilly. The picture over the door- 
way in this committee room is quite a fair representation of the 
topography of the country. 

Senator Scott. I presume a number of the Senators have been there. 

Senator Bate. I have not been there. 

Senator Scott. 1 have. 

Mr. Cadwallder. Then, Senator Scott, you have seen these earth- 
works, have you? 

Senator Scott. Some of them. 

Mr. Cadwallader. They are in a very remarkable state of preser- 
vation — almost perfect. Now, I should like to ask leave for some of 
these ladies to be heard. I should like, if the committee will allow 
me, to introduce one of the representatives of the Daughters of the 
Revolution. 

The Chairman. Veiy well. 

Mr. Cadwallader. Mrs. Nathaniel Seaver Keay, first vice-president- 
general of the Daughters of the Revolution, would like to be heard. 



NATIOlsrAL MILITARY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 11 



STATEMENT OF MRS. NATHANIEL SEAVER KEAY, FIRST VICE- 
PRESIDENT-GENERAL, DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Mrs. Keay. Mr. Chairman, the members of the society which 1 
represent have watched this matter with the deepest interest. Very 
nearly five j^ears ago the Daughters of the Revolution assembled in 
Philadelphia, appointed representatives chosen from every State in the 
Union to consider this matter. There were representatives of our 
society from Colorado, from the far-away State of Washington, from 
the Middle West, and from the South, as well as from New England. 
Man}^ of those who entered our association were eligible because of 
the service of their ancestors at Valley Forge. They said then that 
Valle}^ Forge belonged to them, that it should belong to the nation, 
and that Pennsylvania alone should not own it. So the committee was 
appointed to arrange for this petition before Congress. 

But this occurred just at the time that there were murmurings of 
war, and we felt that the thoughts of Congress would be given to 
other things, and that it was useless to present our bill at that time. 
So we waited very anxiousl}^, for there were so many rumors of 
changes there. As Mr. Cadwallader has said, it is reall}^ almost provi- 
dential that that place has been preserved for one hundred and twenty- 
five years as it has. 1 think if we do not do something now we shall 
be marked as at least a thoughtless if not an ungrateful nation. 

At the last session of Congress we did introduce this bill, but we 
had little hope of definite action then on account of it being the short 
session. We now hope most earnestly that you will give it such con- 
sideration as will bring it out of your committee. \^'e feel sure that 
if it once comes before the Senate and House it will meet with the 
general approval of the two Houses. 

The Daughters of the Revolution have personallj^ interested their 
Representatives and Senators through their own members in almost 
every district in the countr}', and I can sslj that with only one excep- 
tion it has been universally^ agreed that this was the correct and proper 
thing for us to do. 

Last fall we dedicated a monument on the onh^ grave which is still 
visible there. There is one grave which through all these 3^ears has 
been kept intact, the grave of Captain Waterman, of Rhode Island. 
The owner of that land, nearly five years ago, presented our organiza- 
tion with that tract on condition that we would place a monument 
there, which was dedicated on the 19th of last October. We had very 
much hoped that some members of this bodj^ might have been present, 
for we felt that if j- ou would visit Valley Forge you would be as much 
interested as we are in its everlasting preservation. 

As Mrs. Perry has said, when we excavated for the monument we 
exhumed the remains there buried and they were reinterred under the 
monument, so that what had alwa^^s been spoken of as the traditional 
burying ground where Waterman la}'' proved to be the actual burying 
ground. 

We do not feel that Vallej^ Forge should be a place of many monu- 
Bients, but we feel that if joii will simplj^ take the ground now, while, 
as Mr. Cadwallader has said, it can be obtained at low prices, the Gov- 
ernment will discover that it is a most favorable place for some com- 
memoration of the past. We verj^ much hope that the commission 



12 NATIONAL MILITARY PAEK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 

appointed by the War Department will look at Valley Forge with that 
in view. There could certainly be no monument erected there that 
could pa}" the tribute to Washington and his men that those hills and 
valleys will forever pay to their memor3^ No inscription could be 
written on any monument that would be such a lesson to all the future 
that could equal the stor}^ that is mutely told by those hills. 

Gentlemen of the committee, we should like it very much if some 
time, at your convenience, we could arrange to have you visit Valley 
Forge. We feel that you would be personally repaid, and that fur- 
ther argument on our bill would be unnecessary. We should be very 
glad to make arrangements for your comfort. We have all the prac- 
tical information possible there. We have this matter very deeply at 
heart. On this map you will see how much of historical interest 
remains. To begin with, it is a most beautiful tract of countr3% look- 
ing over the valle^^s, the rolling hills, and the quiet river. They are 
talking now of trolley lines and better railroad facilities. We fear 
the time will be very short before it all will be taken up for fine sum- 
mer residences. There are two or three there already. You know 
that this tract includes the headquarters of Generals Wayne, Hunt- 
ington, Varnum, and Poor, besides the headquarters of Lafayette. 
They are all those good, old-fashioned Pennsylvania houses, built of 
substantial stone, fit to face another century as the}' have faced the 
last one. They are very interesting to visit, and there has always 
been a good deal of sentiment there that has kept them in repair and 
in substantially the same condition as they were at that time. 

Now, if there is anything practical that I can tell you in regard to 
the place, I shall be glad to do so. 

Senator Bate. You are very practical when you invite us up there. 

Senator Proctor. I understand you that the houses are standing 
without material change. 

Mrs. Keay. Without material change. 

Senator Bate. We can not afford to go up there while you are try- 
ing to get Congress to appropriate $200,000. 

Mrs. Keay. You will think $200,000 very small when you stop to 
think how much we owe to that past. And when we are extending 
our interests so greatly, it is all the more important that we should 
anchor very fast to our wonderful history. 

The Chairman. Any further questions ? 

Mrs. Keay. We have a representative of the Maryland society here, 
Mrs. Thomas Hill, regent of the Maryland society, and also Mrs. 
MacNeill, of the Colorado society. May 1 say that the interests of 
the Daughters of the Revolution extend over the whole country. 
They are all back of this movement, and they have asked a few of us 
to speak for them tq-day. 

Senator Scott. And you are here representing the Daughters of 
the American Revolution? 

Mrs. Keay. Daughters of the Revolution, a smaller society than 
the Daughters of the American Revolution, and it is pushing the 
movement. 

Mr. Cadwallader. Gentlemen of the committee, allow me to intro- 
duce Mrs. Thomas Hill, State regent of the Daughters of the Revolu- 
tion of Maryland. 



NATIONAL MILITAEY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 13 



STATEMENT OF MRS. THOMAS HILL, REGENT OF THE MARYLAND 
SOCIETY, DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Mrs. Hill. Gentlemen, we are here before you as the lineal descend- 
ants of the men and women of the Revolution, feeling a strong right to 
receive what we ask. 

To the determination and heroism of our fathers the citizens of 
this country owe more than language can express. The founders of 
this great nation, our fathers, gave to us our Constitution, so excel- 
lent in its principles that it seems to be the product of an almost 
divine inspiration. It is impossible ever to honor the memoiy of the 
founders of this great Republic to any adequate degree. All the mon- 
uments we can raise can never cancel the debt we owe to them. We 
ask you, gentlemen, to use your influence for the establishment of a 
national park at Valley Forge, a ground hallowed by remembrances 
of a manly endurance of want, cold, and sickness more than we can 
comprehend. 

Make this spot free of access to the people of these United States, 
and every visitor will receive there a lesson in patriotism. 

1 thank you for your attention, and 1 hope you will remember the 
bill favorably. 

Mr. Cadwallader. Let me introduce Mr. Richmond L. Jones, rep- 
resenting the Sons of the Revolution. 

STATEMENT OF MR. RICHMOND L. JONES. 

Mr. Jones. Just a word, if j^ou please. I only want to say in answer 
to the question asked by Senator Burrows of Mr. Cadwallader (which 
indicated perhaps the idea that the important things were provided 
for), that what has been done is only tentative, in order to rescue the 
headquarters of Washington from spoliation. A small association was 
organized to purchase the property by voluntary contribution. That 
society has no means of keeping up the property except by mere 
voluntary contributions of citizens. 

As to the State of Pennsylvania acquiring the other propert}^, that 
movement was really tentative. It was in order to preserve the 
redoubts as they are, to prevent their destruction. There are no 
appropriations for the restoration of it, but all that has been done has 
been for the preservation of it; and although it is within the lines of 
the State of Pennsylvania, that State does not feel at all as if this were 
Pennsylvania property, but would be very glad to cede it to the United 
States. 

If there is any field among all the historic fields of the Revolution 
that is national in its character, wh}^, certainly, Valley Forge is pre- 
eminent. 

I merely wish to say that so that the opinion may not obtain that 
any provision has been made for it. This is merely temporary in its 
character, both as to this Washington Headquarters Association and 
as to the action of the State of Pennsylvania. 

Senator Bate. Does anyone else desire to be heard? 

Mr. Cadwallader. I should like to say that others who were to 
have been here have been detained on the railroad by the storm. 
There is one thing I wish to emphasize, and that is, that there is not 



14 NATIONAL MILITARY PARK AT VALLEY FORGE, PA. 

an individual interest here, there is no one looking for a commissioner- 
ship. It is purel}^ a disinterested, and I think, intelligent presenta- 
tion of an object very widespread in its interest. These societies are 
represented all over the country, and there has been but one unani- 
mous sentiment in favor of this proposition. I hope that will be dis- 
tinctly understood, and that the time is now ripe, because if action is 
postponed values will increase and make it unreasonable to ask. To-day 
this land can be obtained at such a price that if the Government does 
not want it, an hour afterwards it can get a return of every dollar and 
more. 

Thereupon the committee (at 12 o'clock noon) adjourned. 




VALLEY rORGE 

ShoWTVio enlire blan o£ Cdtnb occobieoL ty Washmolorr 

and. 'Rie CorrtTriet^l y\f^. from 'December 13.1777 to (Jurte 18.1778 



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